On 5th April, 2017, the fourth stage, i.e. general joint test and the low temperature simulated ice-drilling test of the hot water drill system were completed at the complex conditions drill test base of the ministry of land and resources of the People’s Republic of China in Jilin province. The hot water system was operated smoothly during the tests, and all the technical parameters were better than the design specifications. It was confirmed by the expert group that it could be used at the Antarctic Amery ice shelf to start the 1500m drilling. It showed that the key technologies of hot-water drill working on the ice shelf have reached the international advanced level.

It was understood that the key technologies of drilling deeper than 1000m using hot-water drill were only mastered by the United States and Australia before. It was also developed in UK, but didn’t passed the test drilling. Now the key technologies mastered by our country could be used to drill 1500m deep at the Antarctic. That is better than Australia. Compared with American equipment, the technical system of ours has a higher degree of integration and more comprehensive functions.